17 Spanish Superstitions: From Tuesday the 13th to Eating Grapes (2026)

Looking for Spanish superstitions? Spain is a country full of tradition, and many of these old beliefs are still followed today. Some make perfect sense, while others might leave you wondering how they ever started.

Learning Spanish superstitions is one of our travel tips for visiting Spain because they make great conversation starters. Ask any Spanish grandparent about these and you will get an earful.

How We Researched This Article

We started by asking friends for help. Most could not think of much. But as soon as we mentioned a few we already knew, they said, "Oh yeah, that is a real thing."

So we turned to Google and did some digging. Looking back, we probably should have gone straight to the source of all superstitions: the grandparents.

We did our best to fact-check everything, but let us know if we got anything wrong.

A Story About Spanish Superstitions

For fun, let us know if you have ever heard any of these superstitions mentioned in the story.

In a tiny whitewashed village in Andalucia, Abuela Carmen awoke with a groan.

Her arthritic knee was aching. "Ay, Dios mio, it must be Tuesday the 13th," she muttered, crossing herself three times. Not that she needed the calendar; her joints were more accurate than the weather app.

She shuffled to the kitchen in her pink slippers, clutching her rosary and muttering to the Virgin.

Her elbow knocked the jar as she reached for the salt to season her morning eggs. Salt everywhere. Carmen froze mid-breath. Then, like a matador reacting to a charging bull, she spun around and flung a generous pinch over her left shoulder. Unfortunately, she forgot her cat, Pepito, behind her. The feline took off like a rocket, knocking over the broom in the corner.

"Madre mia!" she gasped, catching the falling broom just in time. But not before it grazed her granddaughter Lucia's feet. "Abuela!" cried Lucia, "Does this mean I will be single forever?"

Carmen looked at her with all the solemnity of a village priest. "Si. Unless you marry a baker."

Later, as she walked to the market, Carmen made the mistake of cutting through the alley behind the church, only to find a maintenance worker fixing something above a doorway.

A ladder. She froze. "No, no, no..." she whispered. But her pride refused to turn around. "Soy vieja, not coward." She tiptoed under it, clutching her chest. A pigeon immediately pooped on her scarf.

At the bakery, Carmen bought a fresh loaf of pan de pueblo.

In a rush to grab her change (and still distracted by the supernatural betrayal of the pigeon), she plopped the loaf down on the counter. Upside down. The entire bakery gasped. One woman crossed herself. The baker nearly fainted.

"Lo siento, lo siento," Carmen said, flipping the bread back like it had personally offended her.

"It was the devil. Or the pigeon. Or both."

Back home, she felt a yawn and remembered something else: her niece's baby had been cranky all morning.

"Mal de ojo," she whispered. She pulled out the red ribbon from her purse and tied it around the baby's wrist. "There. No more evil eye. Just evil diapers."

That night, as the family gathered around for New Year planning (because in Carmen's house, January started when she said it did), she placed a bowl of grapes on the table.

"Twelve grapes at midnight. One for each month," she instructed sternly. "Eat them fast. If you choke, it is bad luck. If you do not, you might still get gas. Either way, fortune!"

As the clock chimed, everyone began stuffing grapes in their cheeks like confused squirrels.

Carmen, proud as ever, sat back and smiled. Her day had been filled with signs, symbols, and disasters narrowly avoided. But she was home, her family was safe, and her cat had forgiven her (sort of).

She got into bed, tucked her rosary under the pillow, and whispered, "Let us see what fresh nonsense Wednesday brings."

And with that, Abuela Carmen drifted off, her slippers neatly beside the bed, her lucky red ribbon on the nightstand, and her upside-down bread safely right-side-up on the kitchen counter.

Spanish Superstitions Explained

1. Tuesday the 13th is the Real Unlucky Day

Forget Friday the 13th.

In Spain, Tuesday the 13th is the day to watch out for. Why? The word "martes" (Tuesday) comes from Mars, the Roman god of war. Combine that with the unlucky number 13, and you have a disaster recipe.

Spaniards avoid getting married, travelling, or making big decisions on this day. Some even refuse to leave the house, just in case.

2. Sweeping Over Someone's Feet Dooms Them to Singlehood

If someone sweeps over your feet, accidentally or not, you are doomed to never get married. This belief is so ingrained that people will jump out of the way of a broom faster than you can say "Cuidado!"

Want to undo the curse? The person sweeping has to immediately spit on the broom. No spit? No love life.

3. Red Ribbons Protect Against the Evil Eye

The "mal de ojo" (evil eye) is no joke in Spain. The belief is that if someone looks at you with jealousy, they can accidentally curse you with bad luck.

To protect against it, Spaniards wear a red ribbon on their wrist, inside their wallet, or tied to their baby's stroller. It is a low-effort way to keep bad vibes at bay.

4. Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight on New Year's Eve

This is one of the most famous Spanish traditions, but did you know that eating the grapes incorrectly can bring bad luck?

You are supposed to eat 12 grapes, one for each stroke of midnight.

But you risk a year of misfortune if you eat them too slowly, chew too much, or fail to finish before the last bell rings. No pressure.

5. Odd Number of Candles on Birthday Cakes

Blowing out candles on a birthday cake is fun until you realise you may have accidentally cursed yourself.

In Spain, having an even number of candles on a birthday cake is unlucky. It is always best to have an odd number (or one extra, just in case).

Why? Some say even numbers symbolise balance, meaning nothing will change in the coming year, good or bad. Odd numbers, on the other hand, invite positive change.

6. Hearing an Owl at Night is a Bad Omen

In many cultures, owls symbolise wisdom or mystery. In Spain? They are a bad omen.

If you hear an owl hooting at night, it is believed to foretell death or serious misfortune. Some even say an owl staring at your house means someone inside will fall ill.

So, if you are in the Spanish countryside and hear an owl, maybe sleep with one eye open.

7. Breaking a Mirror (and How to Fix It)

The classic "7 years of bad luck" rule also applies to mirrors in Spain.

However, there is a loophole. You can neutralise the curse if you immediately wash the broken pieces under running water.

Why? Because water is believed to wash away bad energy. So, if you are ever clumsy around mirrors, make sure there is a sink nearby.

8. Stepping in Dog Poop Can Bring Good Luck

Stepping in dog poop is usually the worst part of any day. But in Spain? It might actually be a good thing.

If you step in dog poop with your left foot, it is considered a sign of good fortune.

With your right foot? Bad luck. Either way, your shoes are ruined.

9. Never Cross Your Knife and Fork

Crossing your knife and fork on your plate is a serious no-no at the dinner table. Spaniards believe it invites arguments, accidents, or fights.

Always place your utensils parallel when you are done eating to play it safe.

10. Itchy Palm Means Money is Coming or Going

Spaniards believe an itchy palm means money is on the move.

If your right palm itches, you are about to receive some cash. If your left palm itches, you are about to lose money.

To stop the loss, some people rub their itchy left hand on wood. No idea why that works, but it is worth a shot.

11. Knocking on Wood is Not Enough

While many cultures knock on wood to ward off bad luck, Spaniards take it a step further: you need to knock on wood AND touch your head at the same time.

Why? Because knocking on wood alone is not enough.

The head represents wisdom, so tapping both supposedly keeps bad luck from sticking to you. If you only knock on wood? Well, you have left yourself defenceless.

12. Never Toast With Water

Never, under any circumstances, toast with water. Doing so is basically wishing misfortune upon yourself and everyone at the table.

If you accidentally break this rule, drink the whole glass immediately. That is the only way to reverse the bad luck.

13. Open Scissors Bring Arguments

Leaving scissors open on a table or desk is a sure way to start fights. It is believed to create tension in the air, leading to arguments, misunderstandings, or even betrayals.

Some say that closing the scissors immediately stops the bad energy from spreading. Others take it a step further and will not even pass scissors directly to another person (instead, they place them on a table first).

14. Opening an Umbrella Indoors

Opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck in many countries, but in Spain, it is worse than that.

It is believed that doing this brings misfortune upon the whole household. Some older Spaniards will rush to close an umbrella immediately if someone makes this mistake, even if they do not fully believe in the superstition.

15. Never Put Your Bag on the Floor

Want to stay financially secure? Never put your bag on the floor. Spaniards believe that placing your purse, wallet, or backpack on the ground makes money disappear, almost like you are throwing it away.

Restaurants even offer special hooks under tables so you never have to let your bag touch the floor. Better safe than broke.

16. Do Not Say "Salud" More Than Twice

If someone sneezes, you say "Salud" (meaning "health").

Say it again after a second sneeze, and it is fine. But if they sneeze a third time, stay silent. Saying "Salud" three times is bad luck; some say it even invites death.

17. Placing Bread Upside Down

Placing a loaf of bread upside down on the table is considered disrespectful and brings bad luck. This superstition dates back to medieval times when executioners were given their bread upside down by bakers.

If you accidentally place bread upside down, flip it immediately to avoid the curse.

Spain is full of quirks, and its superstitions are just the beginning. Whether you believe in them or not, they are part of the country's charm. And honestly, if skipping a watery toast or dodging a rogue broom keeps the bad luck away, why not play it safe?